Improvement in ladders



A S M l L L E B L a d d e r Patented Aug N o I 6 6 INV E N TOR wlrnsssssN.PET2RS, PHoTo-LHHDGRAPHER, wAsmNGToN. D 24 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

ABRAHAMs. MILLER, 0E REPUBLIC, oHIo, AssIGNoE 0E ONE-HALE E1s RIGHT TOFRANK P. WILBER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPRovEMENT IN LADDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 166,883, dated August17, 187,5; application filed July 12,-1H75.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM S. MILLER,

of Republic, in the county of Seneca and,

State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and Improved Ladder, of whichthe following is a specification:

My improved ladder is constructed with an upright pole or standard,extensible in height, and supported on a base-beam resting at one end onthe ground or on a stake driven therein, and at the other end adjustableon a standard, so that the ladder may be set rm on uneven ground. Anexpansible brace is employed to stay the ladder in vertical position byconnection with a tree, building, or other object. This brace isconstructed witha grappling-hook and point to hold the ladder, and witha clamp to fix its other extremity tothe tree or other object; or, incase it is to be applied to a building, the brace may be fixed theretoat its inner end by a screw, as hereinafter described. The rounds in theladder extend on each side from the vertical standard. An adjustableplatform is further provided, to be hung from the ladder-rounds byhooks.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ladder,illustrating the invention applied to a tree. The same figure shows alsothe modification in the brace or side, adapted for application to abuilding. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of theextension-brace on a larger scale.

A represents a Vertical pole or standard mortised or securely1 fixed inany other manner to a base-beam, B, resting at one end by a stake, C, onthe ground, and supported adjustably at the other end by a post, D,which is provided with any necessary number of perforations d to receivea pin, E, which is passed through corresponding apertures in thebase-beam B, and is made to support the end of the base-beam at anyrequired height to plumb the ladder-standard A. The basebeam may furtherbe held to the ground by an iron hook or staple, F, if desired. Arepresents an extension of the ladder-standard iixed to the mainstandard A by clips G, so as to avoid the necessity of using andhandling more length of ladder than is needed. H may represent the wallof a house, in connection with which the ladder is to be used. I is abrace or stay-bar, formed at one end with grappling-hooks J, adapted toembrace the ladder-standard A, and catch over either of the projectingrun gs or rounds a. a may be made of either Wood or iron. YThe otherextremity of the brace or stay-bar may be xed to the wall H by aneyebolt or screw, K, which may be quickly inserted therein, and fromwhich the stay-bar springs freely to admit of hooking it over theladder-rounds. For use in connection with a tree, scaffolding, pole, orother object Which can conveniently be grasped, the stay-bar ispreferably constructed as shown at L L, and in the separate View, Fig.2. The two bars, L L', are fastened together by clips M, and a screw, N,serves to admit of extending the stay-bar in length, as may be needful.Another bar, O, is pivoted at o to the stay-bar L near one end thereof,and forms, in connection with the said staybar, a clamp to grasp thetree. Studsl) P project from the faces of the two bars Where theyembrace the tree or pole T, so as to hold the stay-beam securelythereto, and a clamp for the stay-bar to the tree or pole is eii'ectedby means of a cord, Q, running through an eye or pulley, R, and held byan eccentriccatch, S, when drawn tight. The stay-bar L L is fixed to thegrappling-hooks U, and a stud or point V to the extremity of the bar L',the said bar being swiveled to the grapplinghooks to facilitateadjusting the clamp L O to any limb that may be selected. W represents aseat or platform suspended by cords X, and and a double hook, Y, fromany one, of the ladder-rounds, as may be required. The cord may be runhook Y or through the eye of the said hook, so as to admit of readilyrunning the seat of the platform up or down.

This ladder is intended for all purposes for which ladders areordinarily employed. For

fruit-gathering it possesses great superiority.

By means of the long brace or stay it may be adjusted to the main trunkof the tree or to any limb, and at any desired distance therefrom, so asto place the gatherer within convenient reach of the extremities of thelimbs, where, as is well known, the best fruit grows,

The rounds v through a pulley attached to the and which are inaccessiblewith ladders of ordinary construction. At the same time it supports theladder and its burden entirely free of the branches, so that they willsustain no in jury. As a painters ladder it also possesses greatsuperiority. By attaching it to the Wall by means ofthe base-beam andscrew, as shown, one ladder can be made to do the Work of severalold-style ladders generally employed by painters, and, being vertical,it is fixed With all parts of its height at one and the proper distancefrom the Wall, so that it requires no moving. Hence, the Whole distancefrom the top of the building to the base Vmay be painted in a very shorttime, the platform W being readily lowered or raised, as required. Asthe ladder is used in vertical position it reaches to a greater altitudethan a common inclined ladder ofthe same length.

The following is claimed as new:

1. The combination of a vertical ladderstandard and a brace or stay-beamfor securing the saine to anyiobject with which it may be used,substantially as herein described.

2. The combination of the standardA, basebeam B, and adjusting-post D,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the brace or staybar L, of the swiveled hooksU, substantially Y as set forth. 4. The combination of the adjustableseat or platform W, suspension-cord X, hook Y,

and vertical ladder A a, substantially as setV n forth.

ABRAHAM S. MILLER.

Witnesses EMMA LAPHAM, S. LAPHAM.

